A funeral director at the centre of a coffin-swapping controversy says his company “will never take another person out of a coffin before cremation”, after police confirmed criminal charges would not be laid over the incident.

Tony Hart said he was not concerned at all about potential damage to the reputation of his business but changes would be made internally.

Rockhampton police began a fraud investigation when the family of Janice Valigura last week accused Harts Family Funerals of swapping the 74-year-old grandmother’s body from the casket they paid for, into a cheaper coffin before her cremation this month.

The claim was supported by the owner of Rockhampton’s crematorium, and sparked calls for better regulation of Queensland’s funeral industry.

Queensland police say they found no evidence to substantiate a criminal offence against the funeral director. Photo: Valigura family

Police on Wednesday announced investigators found no evidence to substantiate a criminal offence had been committed by the Central Queensland company.

“The QPS does not intend to take any further action in relation to this matter … (and) relevant parties have been informed of this decision,” police said.

Funeral company will change practices

Tony Hart defended his company’s actions reiterating it was only following protocol when it temporarily placed Mrs Valigura’s body in the cheaper coffin so it could be refrigerated before cremation.